Chapter 8

Then arrived graduation month. Suman and Reeta both graduated high school and, as planned, had obtained student visas to study at a local state school. Yet Prisha’s father was moving ahead with his plan to marry her off to this other older guy he had been forcing the girl to sleep with almost every weekend.

Wedding plans were being made and the very weekend after the end of the school year Suman and Reeta and Prisha wound up at Bob’s, yelling and talking and crying and whispering and planning, and all in a language neither Bob nor I could understand.

We thought they were coming up with a battle plan, a way to keep Prisha safe and single and in high school, but then they turned and sat me down and yet again broke my world apart.

“Prisha thought you should know,” Suman said in a calm flat voice. “Reeta and I don’t think you need to know but since it’ll come out anyway we’ve decided to fill you in.”

With a glance at Bob who was standing right behind me, she wondered if Bob should really be there since it was really personal stuff she was going to talk about. I told them to get it over with because no matter what it was they had to say I knew he’d find out. The girls never could keep a secret.

“It’s this,” Suman went on, Prisha making me nervous when she moved over to hold my hand. “It’s your mom. And our dad. They’re doing it together. Like, for a long time now.”

Bob suppressed a laugh but it took me two seconds to fit the words together. My mom and their dad were doing it. Wait. What? No!

I started babbling incomprehensible sounds but Suman waved a hand at me and Reeta went on.

“Listen, David. They’ve been doing this since the New Year. We’ve all known, even my aunt. Instead of being angry she’s found some peace and quiet. One look in their bedroom and you could see my aunt and uncle sleep separately. Uncle only sees your mom a few times a week but that’s enough for him. He’s in his forties already so I think that’s enough. I can’t say the same about your mom, though. She actually calls and asks him over whenever your dad is gone. It’s crazy, like he can get it up anytime she’s in need. Your mom’s become even more of a nympho than Suman.”

“And enough talk from you,” cut in Suman while giving Reeta a soft fist to the shoulder. “Mostly when she’s alone and not working those two days a week but sometimes on the weekend. We don’t talk about it but even my mom makes jokes on the side. The thing is she’s okay with it and your mom seems to be happy. Isn’t that what’s important? Your dad I’m not so sure about.”

The room stayed quiet while I digested all of that, my biggest feeling being that of embarrassment. I brought up some questions but didn’t really argue the facts and Suman mentioned that if I really wanted to know for sure all I had to do is drop by my parents’ house about one on Tuesday.

I did that. Took time off work, with Bob’s blessing and a slap to the shoulder, did an unexpected house call, having lunch with my mother and talking about life, work, and the state of the sun. But then she started getting nervous and asking if I didn’t need to get back to work.

Very nervous.

So I kissed her cheek and left, driving around the block and waiting ten minutes before returning. Walked around the house. Nothing. No sounds from her bedroom, but once under the guest bedroom window, my old room, I heard what no son should ever hear coming from his mother’s mouth. The woman was definitely happy, or at least was being made happy by a man, and I certainly was able to recognize the man’s voice.

Instead of drinking myself into a stupor I walked over to Suman’s house, confronted her mother, my mother’s lover’s wife, and asked, “Did you know? Where he is right now?”

She looked at me, a not so young fortyish woman with greying hair and a scarf over her head. With a nod and a wry smile she said in heavily accented English, “Oh, yes. I know. I’m glad you know. Suman told me. That’s good.”

I took a deep breath and bared my soul to a woman I’d hardly paid much attention to over the previous three years.

“I’m in love with Prisha. I will not allow her to marry that other man. She will not return to Pakistan, either. She’s staying here with me. You understand that, right? No more. She’s staying with me. Tonight. Next week. Always. She’s not coming back.”

That was a lot. I unloaded my soul in just a few sentences and given an ultimatum I wasn’t even sure Prisha would agree to. To my surprise her mother reached up to grasp my hand, holding it in both of hers and nodded and smiled and, yet again, turned my world upside down.

“Yes. That is good. I know. Suman has told me, but you should keep this quiet for a while. Be patient. I have a secret weapon. You wait. I will say it soon even if her father objects. Be patient. But one thing more you should know. Suman hasn’t told you but it is only known this week. Very new but maybe you should know before you go jumping off a cliff. I will tell you. Prisha is with child. Very soon, maybe just this month, but I am sure. Also something her father does not know. It’s best if he doesn’t find out. Not until later, but maybe you should know.”

I was in such shock that I had to sit down. I’d known, the girls had talked about the dangers of pregnancy but it was still a shock. I don’t even know how I drove back to the house without getting in an accident.

Bob and I were still living in the cute little house, prepping it for sale while readying ourselves to move into and start renovating the other place his father had bought. Bob missed me at work and came over when I didn’t return his texts. I stammered out the news and we talked a bit before the three girls showed up.

Idiot emotional romantic that I was Prisha found herself being picked up and kissed by me before she’d tossed her bag on a chair.

“Prisha,” I said, the words tearing out of me like a whirlwind, “I know. You’re pregnant. Let’s get married. I don’t care whose kid it is. I want you, all of you. I told your mother you’re not going home. No more. You can move in today.”

Bob’s words were drowned out by the cooing and ahhing and other cute noises and such being made by the two older girls, Suman stepping in and giving me a hug before softly slapping my face and saying, “Stupid. You’re so cute when you’re stupid.”

Then Prisha pulled away from me, her hands still joined with mine, and looked at her sister. Suman kissed her forehead and ushered Bob and Reeta into the back bedroom while saying, “Come on Bob. They need some privacy. Don’t worry. Reeta and I will make you a very happy man.”

So Prisha and I took a walk, enjoying a rare warm afternoon that didn’t have the late spring sun burning our images into the sidewalk. I wasn’t sure what kind of reception my declaration of love and devotion would receive but I really should have known the girls, particularly those three with Suman in the lead, would have already made a plan.

“Listen, David,” Prisha started off, her hand in mine, my brain ready for some kind of kick in the balls just from the tone of her voice. “You’re sweet, and I love it, but I need to take care of this on my own. I mean, if the kid were really yours, and I really wish it was, then I’d keep it for sure. Marriage, maybe not, and remember how old I am. I’ll only be a junior in high school. Can you really see me getting married? Or carrying and giving birth to a child? And one I don’t even know the father of? I just can’t. Do you get that?”

I had to nod, my stomach in too much turmoil to answer.

“It’s far too late for Plan B but there is something else I can do. Not fun, not looking forward to it, but Suman and Reeta will be there for me. And my mom. Thank goodness she’s on my side. It’s impossible that she’ll tell my father anything so we should get through this okay.”

“How about the other guy?” I said, my voice low as I fought to keep myself under control. My baby being tossed, my marriage proposal denied, and my mother screwing the asshole next-door neighbor. Of course my brain was doing summersaults. I looked at Prisha and led her into a small corner park to sit in the shade, trying to hide my sadness and show that my concern was for her.

“Your father is still pushing to have you marry the other guy, kid or no kid. What’s happening with that?”

“Not going to happen,” Prisha said, cozying up to me with a kiss to my cheek. “Suman’s going to be facing him down. She and Reeta are staying, moving out next month, and I’m going with them. He’ll scream and shout but even my mom is going to stand up to him now.”

“Oh, yeah. I spoke with her today. She said she had a super weapon. Don’t know what she meant by that.”

“Right. Um, did you see your mom? I mean, you know, my dad and everything?”

“Oh yeah,” I whispered, the sounds of my mother being ravished by the man rising to fill my head. “That’s for real. Don’t know what to think about that.”

Prisha leaned her head into my arm, her voice soft and caring when she murmured, “Don’t think about it too much. A lot of stuff still in play. We’ll know more in a couple of weeks, certainly by next month. Just know one thing. I’m not going back. Suman’s agreed. She and Reeta will be heading home later this afternoon but without me. And with my mom’s blessing. She likes you and now that we don’t have to hide or worry about what people will say, maybe you can take me to a nice restaurant before taking me home. Sound good?”

The clouds in my head blocked the full meaning of Prisha’s words but I pretended not to be shocked, holding back the flood of happiness that surged through my body while saying, “Sure. I know a great Indian place just two blocks that way.”

Prisha’s soft scream of pretend anger was followed by laughter and we returned to Bob’s place with a much lighter step. It was no surprise to hear the voices of Reeta and Suman coming from behind Bob’s bedroom door but it took Prisha’s ear to determine what they were saying.

With wide eyes Prisha turned to me and whispered, “Suman’s doing something nasty to Reeta. She hates guy cum you know. Seems like Bob had his fun and is doing it again with Reeta but with Suman pinning my cousin to the bed with her thighs around Reeta’s head.”